AUTHORS in line for this year's Bolton Children's Fiction Award have been revealed.

Six books have been shortlisted for the award, which is judged by the most important people of all when it comes to young fiction ­— children.

This year's contenders Penny Joelson for I have No Secrets, a thrill told by a severely disabled child, where not having a voice could be a matter of life and death; Mitch Johnson's Kick, which is set in Jakarta, where children work long hours in sweatshops sewing the football boots their idols will wear and dream of playing for a top club; Alex Bell for The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club, which is about a diverse group of children who when thrown together discover that their differences can be their strengths; Twister by Juliette Forrest blends real life difficulties of bullying and bereavement with magic, fantasy, friendship and hope; Natasha Farrant's The Children of Castle Rock, which is set in a boarding school and is full of adventures and danger; and Will Mabbit's In Embassy of the Dead, which is about Jake whose life is pretty ordinary, but the lives ­— deaths ­— of the characters he meets are definitely not.

The books were revealed at a ceremony at Bolton School.

The school's head librarian, Maria Howarth said: "A strong theme with the shortlist last year was empathy and this continues with the shortlist for 2019.

"The Bolton Children’s Fiction Award is growing in popularity year on year with new schools coming on board and children asking if they can take part again. Last year’s books are still some of the most issued in our libraries, with word of mouth and peer recommendations keeping the profile high. We are constantly striving to engage pupils with books and reading so it feels a huge responsibility to select a list which will appeal to and be enjoyed by as many pupils as possible."

Over the coming months, primary and secondary school pupils in Years Five to Nine from across Bolton will read the books, take part in related enrichment activities and post reviews on the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award website.

In May, voting will open for all pupils who have read three or more of the shortlisted books. The voting is only open to young people, not adults, which putting the award entirely in pupils’ hands.

The Bolton Children’s Fiction Award will culminate in an award ceremony on June 27 2019 attended by representatives from local schools.

Last year, more than 700 children attended the award ceremony. All six shortlisted authors spent the day in school, giving workshops, signing books and talking to their fans ahead of the ceremony itself. The 2019 Awards Ceremony day promises to be just as exciting for fans of the new shortlist.

The Bolton Children’s Fiction Award has been running since 2005 and has been organised by Bolton School’s librarians since 2015.